Falling Walls Announces 2024 Science Breakthrough of the Year Laureates

• The awardees have made groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs across diverse fields, including immunotherapy, X-ray spectroscopy, solar technology, cartel research, multisensory data visualisation, and innovative medical technologies that address gender-specific health challenges
• The award-winning projects were selected from over 1,000 submissions
• On 9 November this year’s laureates will present their pioneering research at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin

Berlin, 12 September 2024: Which are the next walls to fall in science and society? Today the Falling Walls Foundation has announced the first six laureates of its Science Breakthrough of the Year award. The title is awarded annually and recognises scientific breakthroughs in all academic disciplines.

“These breakthroughs represent significant advancements with the potential to positively impact people’s lives” says Andreas Kosmider, Managing Director of the Falling Walls Foundation. “The Falling Walls Science Summit exists to discuss visionary ideas like these and pave new paths into the future.” 

The last 2024 laureates in the Science Start-Ups, Science Engagement and Emerging Talents categories will be announced at the Science Summit after the pitch competition on 7 November.

The prestigious science conference, hosted by the Falling Walls Foundation since 2009, takes place annually from 7 to 9 November in Berlin and brings together the world's leading researchers and decision-makers from business, academia, and government to highlight the potential of science in addressing the greatest challenges of our time. Discover more about the Science Summit programme and speakers at falling-walls.com/science-summit/
 

The 2024 Falling Walls Science Breakthrough of the Year laureates are:

LIFE SCIENCES
MICHEAL PLATTEN – GERMAN CANCER RESEARCH CENTER (DKFZ) AND MANNHEIM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Breaking the Wall of Brain Tumor Vaccines
Michael Platten from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Mannheim University Hospital develops vaccines targeting gliomas, a challenging brain tumor. His immunotherapy leverages the immune system to combat tumor-causing mutations, offering new hope for treating these aggressive cancers.

PHYSICAL SCIENCES
SAW WAI HLA – OHIO UNIVERSITY & ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY
Breaking the Wall of 128 Years of X-ray History
Saw Wai Hla from Ohio University and Argonne National Laboratory, USA, has achieved the first detection of X-ray signals from a single atom. This groundbreaking advancement in X-ray spectroscopy paves the way for new developments in quantum research, medical technology, and materials science.

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
GUIHUA YU – THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Breaking the Wall of Solar Water Sustainability 
Guihua Yu from the University of Texas at Austin, USA, developed solar-driven technologies that enable sustainable water supply solutions. His research addresses global water scarcity by producing clean water through renewable energy. Therefore, his technology uses hydrogel-based solar evaporators and water harvesting systems.

SOCIAL SCIENCES & HUMANITIES
RAFAEL PRIETO-CURIEL – COMPLEXITY SCIENCE HUB
Breaking the Wall of Drug Cartel Analysis 
Rafael Prieto-Curiel from the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna, Austria, uses mathematical models to analyse the intricate structures of Latin American drug cartels. His research highlights the cartels as major employers in Mexico and provides critical insights for security and social policy.

ART & SCIENCE
TIANGE WANG – VLAB
Breaking the Wall of Multisensory Data
Tiange Wang and I-Yang Huang, founders of VLab in Cambridge, USA, create multisensory experiences from climate data. Their project "DataWagashi" employs taste, smell, and touch to render complex environmental information more accessible and engaging, enhancing awareness of global challenges.

WOMEN’S IMPACT AWARD
INGE KATRIN HERRMANN – ETH ZURICH AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH
Breaking the Wall of Women's Health
Inge Katrin Herrmann from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich develops medical technologies targeting women’s health issues, including endometriosis and gynecological cancers. Her W-HEALTH programme provides affordable and accessible solutions for health challenges affecting women globally. The Women’s Impact Award is a joint initiative of the Falling Walls Foundation, The Elsevier Foundation und the VolkswagenStiftung.

ABOUT FALLING WALLS FOUNDATION
The Falling Walls Foundation was inspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 1989 and the dawn of a new era of freedom. The nonprofit foundation promotes breakthrough thinking and is building a growing network of leaders in academia, business, and the public sector to tackle grand challenges and bring groundbreaking ideas to society. More: falling-walls.com/

Press Contact: 
Hannes Schlender, Interim Press Spokesperson, [email protected].